True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#21)
AMERICA'S GREATEST PRESIDENT - ABRAHAM LINCOLN
"We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." (Abraham Lincoln, 1st Inaugural Address, March 1861)
Abraham Lincoln - February 5 1865
My 21st "True American Pride" post honors arguably America's greatest President, Abraham Lincoln. It is difficult in a short post to clearly state the importance of Lincoln to this country's history, its survival as a republic, and his impact still today on our values and culture. Though he was initially elected by a minority of the popular vote in 1860 (but just enough electoral votes), he managed to lead this country through a civil war; he preserved the union and led with a blend of courage, humility, decisiveness, and forward-looking wisdom that is missing in our current leaders. And his tragic assassination by John Wilkes Booth on April 14 1865 only cemented his legacy as a leader whose vision would be missed during the divisive post Civil-War Reconstruction.
I just recently learned this story about Lincoln and it only impressed me more about him. It’s about what Lincoln used to call “hot letters”
Lincoln had a reputation of being a wise leader: calm, collected, patient, even in the trying times that he faced during the Civil War.
But the truth is Lincoln was no different than any of us. He had an explosive anger and often got quickly frustrated with his Generals and his Cabinet advisers.
Abraham Lincoln had a brilliant tactic to dial down his anger during the Civil War according to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's new book, Leadership in Turbulent Times.
According to Goodwin, when Lincoln was angry at a cabinet member, a colleague or one of his generals in the Union army, he would write a letter venting all of his pent-up rage. Then--and this is the key--he put it aside.
Hours later or the next day, he would look at the letter again so he could "attend to the matter with a clearer eye." More often than not, he didn't send the letter. We know this was Lincoln's tactic because years after his death historians discovered a trove of letters with the notation: “Never Sent and Never Signed”.
Lincoln practiced this habit for three reasons. First, he didn't want to inflame already heated passions. Second, he realized that words said in haste aren't always clear-headed and well-considered. Third, he did it as a signal--a learning opportunity--for others on his now famous "team of rivals."
Never Signed. Never Sent. Oh what wisdom there is in that act and the closing notation. If only I could remember to practice that myself more often!
The words he spoke at various times during his presidency were eloquent and timeless (such as the opening passage which is a favorite of mine). He also was a man equally filled with more pithy wisdom as well...such as...
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”
I have never had the opportunity to visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. I hope I'll have that chance some day. It is, I'm sure it is a sacred place.
A place where one can stop and reflect...and remember what is right, true, and good about this country. And silently rededicate oneself to upholding and practicing that. God Bless America.